Flights cancelled as protest rocks Barcelona airport

Dozens of flights at Barcelona’s airport were cancelled or delayed on Tuesday as the fallout from massive protests over the sentencing of nine Catalan leaders continued to be felt.

At least, 45 flights had to be completely scrapped on Tuesday, and many passengers had to spend the night at the airport after the Monday night protests led to many flight connections falling through.

Thousands of demonstrators had gathered at the airport in an attempt to block access roads and bring all operations to a standstill.

The demonstration started after a Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced nine separatist leaders to at least nine years in prison over their roles in an independence referendum.

In protests at the airport and other parts of northern Spain, at least 70 people were injured and three activists were arrested, according to Spanish television reports.

Clashes between police and protesters, with police using foam bullets, were also reported, NAN reports.

The sentencing occurred more than two years after the October 2017 referendum on whether to declare Spain’s north-eastern Catalonia region, which includes the city of Barcelona, an independent state.

A Spanish court had declared the referendum illegal, but it went ahead anyway.

Those accused included the region’s former vice president, Oriol Junqueras.

He received the highest sentence of 13 years.

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